"Okay, everyone! Pair up for the three-legged race!"
The announcement from their PE teacher echoed through the schoolyard, and the class erupted into excited chatter.
Students immediately began pairing off with their best friends or crushes, laughter and teasing filling the air.
Haruto, meanwhile, stood frozen — trying to blend into the background.
Maybe if I stay really still, no one will—
"Haruto-kun! Partner!"
Too late.
He turned just in time to see Aoi running toward him, waving enthusiastically.
Her smile was radiant under the bright morning sun, her short ponytail swaying with every step. She stopped in front of him, slightly breathless but beaming.
"Let's team up!" she said, eyes sparkling. "We're totally gonna win!"
Haruto sighed in mock defeat. "I should've known you'd find me first."
"Of course!" she grinned. "You're the only one who keeps up with my crazy ideas!"
He couldn't argue with that.
---
Soon, the pairs began lining up on the track, their legs tied together with bright red cloth.
Haruto knelt beside Aoi as they adjusted the knot.
"Not too tight?" he asked.
"Nah, it's perfect," she said — though the moment she tried to stand, she nearly toppled over, grabbing his arm for balance.
He caught her instinctively, and for a second, their faces were just inches apart.
A faint blush crept up her cheeks. "Oops… heh."
Haruto quickly looked away, heart racing. "You should… be more careful."
"Sorry~," she said, smiling sheepishly.
Riku, standing nearby, called out, "Oi, Haruto! Save the flirting for after the race!"
Aoi stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just jealous we're the dream team!"
The whistle blew before Riku could respond.
---
"Ready… set… GO!"
Pairs stumbled forward — some tripping immediately, others finding their rhythm after a few steps.
Aoi and Haruto started awkwardly, their steps out of sync.
"Left! Right! Left—Aoi, that's my right!"
"Ah! Sorry! I panicked!"
They nearly fell but somehow managed to recover, laughing breathlessly as they picked up speed.
"Okay, okay," Aoi said between laughs. "Let's match steps. One, two, one, two—got it?"
He nodded. "Got it. Don't mess up."
"You mean don't let you mess up," she teased.
And just like that — they found their rhythm.
The crowd cheered as they surged forward, perfectly synchronized now. Haruto could feel Aoi's shoulder brushing his with every step, her laughter ringing beside him, her energy contagious.
"Almost there!" she shouted.
They crossed the finish line — second place, but still triumphant.
Aoi threw her hands in the air. "We did it!"
Haruto smiled, panting. "Yeah. Not bad, partner."
"Not bad?!" She gasped dramatically. "We were amazing! Come on, high five!"
He raised his hand, and she slapped it enthusiastically — then immediately lost balance again and stumbled into him.
Haruto caught her again.
They froze, faces close, eyes meeting.
Time slowed for a second.
Then Riku's voice cut through the air: "Looks like they're really tied together, huh?"
Laughter rippled through the group, and Aoi jumped back, flustered. "H-Hey! It's not like that!"
Haruto just sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, though he couldn't stop the smile tugging at his lips.
---
Later, as the sun began to set and the festival ended, Aoi and Haruto sat on the bleachers, sharing a sports drink.
"Today was fun," she said, kicking her legs lightly.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Even with all the teasing."
She glanced at him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "It's fine. As long as it's with you, I don't mind."
Haruto turned his head toward her, surprised — but she was already looking away, pretending to focus on the sunset.
The orange glow reflected in her eyes, soft and warm.
He smiled faintly. "You really like saying stuff that makes it hard to think straight, don't you?"
She laughed softly. "Maybe. But only to you."
---
That night, Haruto couldn't help replaying the day in his head — the laughter, the near falls, her hand in his, the way her smile lit up the track.
And for the first time, he didn't try to push the thought away.
Because maybe… he didn't want to.